Urine sampling container

ABSTRACT

A urine collection vessel includes: a narrow cylindrical container tube ( 2 ) for containing urine provided with an end closed and the other end opened; a narrow cylindrical urine collection tube ( 3 ) for collecting urine provided with an end closed, the other end which is opened and freely connected or disconnected to the opened end of the container tube ( 2 ) and a urine collection inlet ( 33 ) provided at the side of the urine collection tube; and a narrow cylindrical cover tube for closing the urine collection inlet ( 33 ) provided with an end closed and the other end opened and has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the urine collection tube ( 3 ) such that the urine collection tube ( 3 ) is freely inserted into and removed from the cover tube. Part of the urine collection tube ( 3 ) ranging from the urine collection inlet ( 33 ) to the closed end is formed as a measuring part ( 31 ) which contains and measures a predetermined amount of urine. Also included is a cap which closes the opened end of the container tube ( 2 ). The urine collection vessel further includes a protrusion ( 38 ) formed on the outer circumference surface of the urine collection tube ( 3 ) and a recess into which the projection ( 38 ) is fitted when the urine collection tube ( 3 ) is inserted into the cover tube. The urine collection tube ( 3 ) and the cover tube are simultaneously detached from the container tube ( 2 ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a urine collection vessel used forurinalysis carried out in hospitals and examination centers.

BACKGROUND ART

Various urinalyses have generally been carried out in hospitals andexamination centers.

As an example of urine collection vessels used for the urinalyses,Publication of International Patent Application WO95/09362 discloses aurine collection vessel comprising a cylindrical vessel body having aurine collection inlet, a cap which is detachably attached to an openedend of the vessel body and a cover tube which is formed such that thevessel body is freely inserted therein and removed therefrom.

Further, as disclosed by Publication of International Patent ApplicationWO95/09362, there is also another urine collection vessel comprising acylindrical vessel body, a cap which is detachably attached to an openedend of the vessel body and provided with a urine collection inlet and acover tube which is formed such that the vessel body is freely insertedtherein and removed therefrom.

In collecting urine with these urine collection vessels, a test subjectattaches the cap to the opened end of the vessel body and holds the capsuch that the vessel body points downward. Then, urine is poured ontothe urine collection inlet, thereby collecting the urine in the vesselbody through the urine collection inlet. After the urine collection, thevessel body is inserted into the cover tube with the closed end of thevessel body kept pointing downward, thereby closing the urine collectioninlet with the cover tube.

Problem to be Solved

The urine collection vessel described above is held in a vessel carrierand transferred to an examination room or the like with the urinecollection inlet closed with the cover tube. However, the conventionalurine collection vessel has a problem in that they complicate urinalysisto be executed in the examination room.

More specifically, according to an example of the urinalysis using theurine collection vessel, the cap is detached from the urine collectionvessel with the vessel body kept inserted in the cover tube and then areagent or the like is poured into the vessel body from the opened endof the vessel body. According to another example, the cover tube isdetached from the urine collection vessel with the cap kept attached tothe vessel body and a reagent or the like is poured into the vessel bodyfrom the urine collection inlet of the vessel body.

However, the conventional urine collection vessels are not equipped witha measuring means. Therefore, urine may be collected to fill the vesselup to the urine collection inlet of the cap and an extra amount of urineis difficult to dispose of. That is, in some cases, the amount of urinecollected exceeds the capacity of the vessel body which will be solelyplaced in an examination apparatus. Therefore, it takes trouble inplacing the vessel body in the examination apparatus.

In particular, if urine is collected in an excess amount, the urine inthe vessel body may drip out of the cover tube through the opened end ofthe cover tube when the vessel body is inserted into the cover tubeafter the urine collection. This may possibly soil the hands of the testsubject.

In view of the above, the present invention has been achieved. An objectof the present invention is to allow collection of urine necessary forexamination with reliability.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first invention, is provided a urine collection vesselcomprising: a narrow cylindrical container tube for containing urineprovided with an end closed and the other end opened; a narrowcylindrical urine collection tube for collecting urine provided with anend closed, the other end which is opened and freely connected ordisconnected to the opened end of the container tube and a urinecollection inlet provided at the side of the urine collection tube; anda narrow cylindrical cover tube for closing the urine collection inletprovided with an end closed and the other end opened and has a slightlylarger diameter than the diameter of the urine collection tube so thatthe urine collection tube is freely inserted into and removed from thecover tube, wherein part of the urine collection tube ranging from theurine collection inlet to the closed end is formed as a measuring partwhich contains and measures a predetermined amount of urine.

According to a second invention, in relation to the first invention, theurine collection vessel further comprises a cap which closes the openedend of the container tube when the container tube and the urinecollection tube are separated.

According to a third invention, in relation to the first or secondinvention, the urine collection vessel further comprises a connectingmeans for detachably connecting the urine collection tube and the covertube.

According to a fourth invention, in relation to the third invention theconnecting means includes a protrusion which is formed on the outercircumference surface of the urine collection tube and a recess which isformed on the inner circumference surface of the cover tube such thatthe protrusion is fitted in the recess when the urine collection tube isinserted into the cover tube.

According to a fifth invention, in relation to the first invention, thecontainer tube is provided with a scale for indicating the amount ofurine collected.

According to a sixth invention, the container tube, urine collectiontube and cover tube of the first invention are sterilized.

According to a seventh invention, in relation to the first invention, astrip-shaped protrusion is formed on part of the outer circumferencesurface of the urine collection tube near the urine collection inlet.

EFFECTS

In the present invention, first, the opened end of the container tube isconnected to the urine collection tube to form an assembly ready forurine collection.

After the tubes are assembled, a test subject holds the container tubewith the urine collection tube pointing downward. The test subject thenpours urine onto the urine collection inlet such that the urine flowsinto the urine collection tube through the urine collection inlet andaccumulates in the measuring part. Thus, urine collection is completed.During the urine collection, once a predetermined amount of urine (e.g.,10 ml) is infused into the measuring part, an additional amount of urineleaks out of the urine collection inlet of the urine collection tube.Therefore, an amount of urine required for urinalysis is surelycollected without collecting extra urine.

When the urine collection is completed, the urine collection vessel istransferred to an examination room or the like. The transfer of thevessel may be carried out in two manners.

According to a first manner, the urine collection tube which is keptpointing downward is inserted into the cover tube. As a result, theurine collection tube which is a soiled part is covered. When the urinecollection tube is inserted into the cover tube, the urine collectioninlet is closed with the cover tube and the protrusion of the urinecollection tube and the recess of the cover tube are engaged.

Then, the urine collection vessel is turned upside down, placed in avessel carrier or the like with the container tube pointing downward andtransferred to the examination room. At this time, since the urinecollection vessel is turned upside down, the urine contained in themeasuring part flows into the container tube and accumulates therein.

Then, the container tube is separated from the urine collection tube andthe cover tube. At this time, the cover tube is pulled in a directionaway from the container tube, whereby the cover tube and the urinecollection tube which is kept connected to the cover tube by theconnecting means are detached from the container tube at one time. Morespecifically, the urine collection tube and the cover tube are separatedat the same time from the container tube with the protrusion and therecess engaged with each other. Then, only the container tube containingthe urine is placed in an examination apparatus.

In a second manner, the container tube is transferred with the capattached thereto. In this case, after the urine collection is completed,the urine collection tube is inserted into the cover tube with the urinecollection tube pointing downward. By inserting the urine collectiontube into the cover tube, the urine collection inlet is closed with thecover tube and the protrusion and the recess are engaged.

Then, the urine collection tube is turned upside down such that theurine contained in the measuring part flows into the container tube andaccumulates therein. In this state, the cover tube is pulled in adirection away from the container tube to separate the cover tube andthe urine collection tube which is kept connected to the cover tube fromthe container tube at one time. Then, the container tube containing theurine is sealed by attaching the cap to the opened end of the containertube, held in an upright position in a vessel carrier and thentransferred to the examination room. In the examination room, the cap isremoved from the container tube and the container tube is placed in anexamination apparatus.

EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

Thus, according to the present invention, the urine collection tube isprovided with the measuring part. Therefore, an amount of urine requiredfor the examination is surely collected. This eliminates the need ofdisposing of extra urine in the examination room. Therefore, theexamination is carried out hygienically and quickly.

Since the urine collection tube is covered with the cover tube, a testsubject is allowed to collect urine by merely pouring the urine onto theurine collection inlet. As a result, the urine collection is achieved inan exceedingly hygienic manner without spattering the urine on the hand.

Since the container tube does not have any openings, there is no need oftransferring the urine into a centrifugation tube to subject the urineto centrifugation for examination. Therefore, the container tube isdirectly used in an examination apparatus, thereby speeding theexamination.

If the cover tube and the urine collection tube are connected, the covertube and the urine collection tube are simultaneously separated from thecontainer tube without touching the soiled part. Therefore, the urinecollection is achieved in an exceedingly hygienic manner.

Further, if the container tube is provided with the scale, the amount ofurine collected is recognized with accuracy. Therefore, an examinationrecord or the like is easily prepared.

If the container tube, urine collection tube and cover tube aresterilized, the kind and number of bacteria are examined with accuracy,thereby improving reliability of urinalysis.

Further, if the strip-shaped protrusion is formed on part of the outercircumference surface of the urine collection tube near the urinecollection inlet, the urine is prevented from leaking into space betweenthe urine collection tube and the cover tube.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of a urine collection vessel of Example 1 of thepresent invention with a cover tube detached.

FIG. 2 is a vertical cross section of the urine collection vessel ofExample 1 of the present invention with the cover tube attached thereto.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of a container tube of Example 1 ofthe present invention with a cap attached thereto.

FIG. 4 is a vertical cross section of the container tube of Example 1 ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a urine collection tube of Example 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 6 is a vertical cross section of the urine collection tube ofExample 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a cross section illustrating Example 1 of the presentinvention taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a vertical cross section of the cover tube of Example 1 of thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the cap of Example 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a front view of a urine collection vessel of Example 2 of thepresent invention before urine collection.

FIG. 11 is a vertical cross section of the urine collection vessel ofExample 2 of the present invention after the urine collection.

FIG. 12 is an oblique view illustrating part of a urine collection tubeof Example 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of a urine collection vessel of Example 3 of thepresent invention before urine collection.

FIG. 14 is a vertical cross section of the urine collection vessel ofExample 3 of the present invention after the urine collection.

FIG. 15 is a plan view of a urine collection tube of Example 3 of thepresent invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT 1

Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, a detailed explanation isgiven of Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrate Embodiment 1 of the present invention. As shownin FIGS. 1 to 3, a urine collection vessel 1 is a vessel used forcollecting urine for urinalysis carried out in hospitals and the like.

The urine collection vessel 1 includes a container tube 2 for containingurine collected, a urine collection tube 3 for collecting and measuringthe urine and a cover tube 4 which is detachably attached to the urinecollection tube 3.

As shown in FIG. 4, the container tube 2 is a narrow cylinder having anend closed and the other end opened. The container tube 2 is made oftransparent material such as synthetic resin. The material for thecontainer tube 2 is not limited to the transparent material and othermaterials such as colored translucent material may also be used.

The container tube 2 includes a main part 21 which is almost a left halfthereof and a tapered part 22 which is almost a right half thereof asshown in FIG. 4. The container tube 2 is formed as a centrifugation tubehaving enough outer diameter and length to place the container tube 2 ina urinalysis apparatus.

The main part 21 of the container tube 2 is slightly tapered toward thetapered part 22. Threads 23 are formed on part of the outercircumference surface of the main part 22 near the opened end such thatthe urine collection tube 3 is fixed thereto. The tapered part 22 of thecontainer tube 2 is continuous to the main part 21 and tapered towardthe closed end thereof. The angle of the tapered part 22 of thecontainer tube 2 is larger than the tapering angle of the main part 21.

At the tip portion of the tapered part 22 of the container tube 2, afirst gauge line 2 a and a second gauge line 2 a are provided. Whenurine collected is subjected to centrifugation and the resultingsupernatant is disposed of to obtain a urine sample for a urinarysediment examination (15 μl), the first gauge line 2 a and the secondgauge line 2 a are used to indicate the amount of the remaining urine.The first and second gauge lines indicate 0.1 ml and 0.2 ml,respectively.

The container tube 2 is given with a scale 2 b which indicates theamount of urine collected. The scale 2 b is provided along thelengthwise direction of the container tube 2 so that the amount of urinecollected is recognized.

The urine collection tube 3 is a narrow cylinder having an end closedand the other end opened as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7. The urine collectiontube 3 is made of translucent material such as synthetic resin. Thematerial for the urine collection tube 3 is not limited to thetransparent material and various materials such as non-tinted syntheticresin may also be used.

The urine collection tube 3 includes a measuring part which is almost aleft half thereof and a urine collection part 32 which is almost a righthalf thereof as viewed in FIG. 5. The measuring part 31 has a closed endand configured to measure urine required for urinalysis. For example, ifthe measuring part 31 of the urine collection tube 3 is configured tohave a volume of 10 ml, the measuring part 31 is formed into a cylinderof 13.8 mm in inner diameter and 69.00 mm in length. The volume of themeasuring part 31 may be 15 ml or 20 ml. In short, the volume of themeasuring part 31 may be 10 ml or more or less than 10 ml depending onthe requirements of the examination and the like.

The urine collection part 32 of the urine collection tube 3 is acylinder having an end continuous to the measuring part 31 and the otherend opened. The urine collection part 32 is provided with a urinecollection inlet 33 and auxiliary inlets 34. The urine collection inlet33 is an opening which penetrates part of the wall of the urinecollection tube 3 from the outer circumference surface to the innercircumference surface thereof and urine is poured thereon to collect theurine. The urine collection inlet 33 is formed by cutting away more thanhalf of the circumference of the urine collection tube 3 and has alength of 30.00 mm in the axis direction.

The urine collection inlet 33 is formed to have an orthogonal plane 33 awhich is located at an end closer to the measuring part 31 andcorrespond with the direction of the radius of the urine collection tube3 and an inclined plane 33 b which is located at the other end andinclined toward the opened end of the urine collection tube 3. Themeasuring part 31 is defined as ranging from the orthogonal plane 33 aof the urine collection inlet 33 to the closed end of the urinecollection tube 3.

The auxiliary inlets 34 penetrate parts of the wall of the urinecollection inlet 3 opposite to the urine collection inlet 33 from theouter circumference surface to the inner circumference surface thereof.The auxiliary inlets 34 are arranged in line along the axis direction.The number of the auxiliary inlet 34 may be one, or three or more. Theauxiliary inlets 34 are formed to release air during the urinecollection so that the urine collection is easily carried out and toprevent deformation during molding.

At the opened end of the urine collection part 32, a connecting part 35to be connected to the container tube 2 is formed. The connecting part35 has an outer diameter larger than that of the urine collection part32 so that the opened end of the container tube 2 is freely insertedtherein and removed therefrom.

The connecting part 35 is provided with threads 36 formed on the innercircumference surface thereof to be engaged with the threads 23 of thecontainer tube 2. With the threads 23 of the container tube 2 and thethreads 36 of the urine collection tube 6, the container tube 2 and theurine collection tube 6 are freely connected or disconnected. Thethreads 23 of the container tube 2 and the threads 36 of the urinecollection tube 6 are so configured that the container tube 2 and theurine collection tube 6 are connected or disconnected relatively by asingle rotation, ½ rotation or ¾ rotation.

The urine collection tube 3 includes a first protrusion 37 and a secondprotrusion 38 formed on the outer circumference surface thereof. Thefirst protrusion 37 is in the form of a strip and formed along theentire circumference surface of the urine collection tube 3 to preventbackflow of the urine toward the end of the cover tube 4 and fix thecover tube 4. The second protrusion 38 is also in the form of a stripand formed along the entire circumference surface of the urinecollection tube 3 to prevent the urine from leaking outside the covertube 4 and fix the cover tube 4. The first protrusion 37 is formed onpart of the outer circumference surface of the measuring part 31 nearthe urine collection inlet 33 and the second protrusion 38 is formed onpart of the outer circumference surface of the connecting part 35. Acomponent indicated by the chain double-dashed line shown in FIG. 5 isomitted in this embodiment.

The cover tube 4 is a narrow cylinder having an end closed and the otherend opened as shown in FIG. 8. The cover tube 4 is made of coloredmaterial such as synthetic resin. The material for the urine collectiontube 3 is not limited to the colored material and various materials mayalso be used.

The cover tube 4 has a slightly larger outer diameter than the diameterof the urine collection tube 3 such that the urine collection tube 3 isfreely inserted therein and removed therefrom.

The cover tube 4 includes a cover main body 41 having enough length toclose the urine collection inlet 33 and insert the urine collection tube3 therein completely and a large-diameter part 42 which is formed at theopened end portion of the cover main body 41. On the inner circumferencesurface of the large diameter part 42, a recess 43 is formed such thatthe second protrusion 38 of the urine collection tube 3 is fittedtherein.

The inner diameter of the cover main body 41 is determined such that thecover main body 41 contacts the first protrusion 37 of the urinecollection tube 3 which slides thereinto, thereby preventing backflow ofthe urine flown out of the urine collection inlet 33 of the urinecollection tube 3 toward the closed end of the cover tube 4. The recess43 of the cover tube 4 is in the form of a strip and formed along theentire inner circumference of the cover tube 4 such that the secondprotrusion 38 of the container tube 2 is fitted therein when the urinecollection tube 3 is inserted into the cover tube 4.

The recess 43 of the cover tube 4 and the second protrusion 38 of theurine collection tube 3 constitute a connecting means 1 a. Therefore, todetach the container tube 2 from the urine collection tube 3 and thecover tube 4, the cover tube 4 is pulled in a direction away from thecontainer tube 2, thereby detaching the cover tube 4 and the urinecollection tube 3 which is kept connected to the cover tube 4 at onetime from the container tube 2.

Further, the recess 43 of the cover tube 4 and the second protrusion 38of the urine collection tube 3 constitute a sealing mechanism thatprevents the urine from leaking out of the cover tube 4.

The urine collection vessel 1 described above includes a cap 5 for thecontainer tube 2. The cap 5 includes a main body 51 which is shaped intoan inversed U when viewed in section as shown in FIG. 9. The cap 5further includes threads 52 which are formed on the inner circumferencesurface of a cylindrical part of the cap 5 and configured to be engagedwith the threads 23 of the container tube 2. The cap 51 is so formedthat the opened end of the container tube 2 is inserted therein and thethreads 23 and 52 are engaged with each other to completely seal thecontainer tube 2.

-Usage Directions for the Urine Collection Vessel 1-

Now, an explanation is given of usage directions for the urinecollection vessel 11 described above.

First, for urine collection, the opened end of the container tube 2 isinserted into the connecting part 35 of the urine collection tube 3 andthe threads 36 of the urine collection tube 3 and the threads 23 of thecontainer tube 2 are engaged to connect the urine collection tube 3 andthe container tube 2, thereby forming an assembly ready for urinecollection.

A test subject holds the container tube 2 of the assembly thus formedwith the urine collection tube 3 pointing downward. The test subjectthen pours urine onto the urine collection inlet 33 such that the urineflows into the urine collection tube 3 through the urine collectioninlet 33 and accumulates in the measuring part 31. Thus, urinecollection is completed. During the urine collection, once apredetermined amount of urine (e.g., 10 ml) is infused into themeasuring part 31, an additional amount of urine leaks out of the urinecollection tube 3 through the urine collection inlet 33. Therefore, anamount of urine required for the examination is surely collected withoutcollecting extra urine.

After the urine collection is finished, the urine collection vessel 1 istransferred to an examination room or the like. The transfer of thevessel may be carried out in two manners.

According to a first manner, as shown in FIG. 2, the urine collectiontube 3 which is kept pointing downward is inserted into the cover tube4. As a result, the urine collection tube 3 which is a soiled part iscovered. When the urine collection tube 3 is inserted into the covertube 4, the urine collection inlet 33 is closed with the cover tube 4and the second protrusion 38 and the recess 43 of the cover tube 4 areengaged. The engagement of the second protrusion 38 and the recess 43prevents the collected urine from leaking. Further, since the cover mainbody 41 and the first protrusion 37 of the urine collection tube 3 arein contact with each other, the urine flown out of the urine collectioninlet 33 of the urine collection tube 3 will not flow toward the closedend of the cover tube 4. That is, the urine will not remain in the covertube 4, thereby preventing shortage of the urine to be examined.

Then, the urine collection vessel 1 is turned upside down and held in avessel carrier or the like with the container tube 2 pointing downwardand transferred to the examination room. At this time, since the urinecollection tube 3 is turned upside down, the urine contained in themeasuring part 31 flows into the container tube 2 and accumulatestherein.

Then, in the examination room, since the second protrusion 38 of theurine collection tube 3 and the recess 43 of the cover tube 4 areengaged, the cover tube 4 is rotated with respect to the container tube2 to disengage the threads 23 and 36. With the threads 23 and 36disengaged, the container tube 2 is detached from the urine collectiontube 3 and the cover tube 4.

To detach the container tube 2 from the urine collection tube 3 and thecover tube 4, the cover tube 4 is pulled in a direction away from thecontainer tube 2, thereby detaching the cover tube 4 and the urinecollection tube 3 which is kept connected to the cover tube 4 by theconnecting means la at one time from the container tube 2. Then, onlythe container tube 2 containing the urine is placed in an examinationapparatus.

According to a second manner, the container tube 2 is transferred withthe cap 5 attached thereto. Also in this case, after the urinecollection is completed, the urine collection tube 3 which is keptpointing downward is inserted into the cover tube 4. By inserting theurine collection tube 3 into the cover tube 4, the urine collectioninlet 33 is closed with the cover tube 4 and the second protrusion 38and the recess 43 are engaged.

Then, the urine collection tube 3 is turned upside down so that theurine contained in the measuring part 31 flows into the container tube 2and accumulates therein. In this state, the threads 36 of the urinecollection tube 3 and the threads 23 of the container tube 2 aredisengaged and the cover tube 4 is pulled in a direction away from thecontainer tube 2 to separate the cover tube 4 and the urine collectiontube 3 from the container tube 2 at one time. As a result, the containertube 2 containing the urine is isolated and the opened end of thecontainer tube 2 is screwed into the cap 5 to seal the container tube 2.The sealed container tube 2 is then held in an upright position in avessel carrier and transferred to the examination room. In thisexamination room, the cap 5 is detached from the container tube 2 andthe container tube 2 is placed in the examination apparatus.

EFFECT OF EMBODIMENT 1

As described above, according to this embodiment, the urine collectiontube 3 is provided with the measuring part 31. Therefore, an amount ofurine required for the examination is surely collected. This eliminatesthe need of disposing of extra urine in the examination room. Therefore,the examination is carried out hygienically and quickly.

Since the cover tube 4 and the urine collection tube 3 are connected,the urine collection tube 3 and the cover tube 4 are detachedsimultaneously from the container tube 2 without touching the soiledpart. Therefore, urine collection is carried out in an exceedinglyhygienic manner.

Since the urine collection tube 3 is covered with the cover tube 4, atest subject can carry out urine collection by merely pouring urine ontothe urine collection inlet 33. As a result, the urine collection isachieved without spattering the urine on the hand, thereby allowingurine collection in an exceedingly hygienic manner.

Since the container tube 2 is not provided with any openings, there isno need to transfer the urine from the container tube into a spitz tubeto subject the urine to centrifugation for examination. Since thecontainer tube 2 is directly used in an examination apparatus, theexamination is carried out quickly.

Further, since the container tube 2 includes the scale 2 b, the amountof urine collected is recognized with reliability. Therefore, anexamination record or the like is easily prepared.

EMBODIMENT 2

Now, with reference to the drawings, a detailed explanation is given ofEmbodiment 2 of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the cover tube 4 of Embodiment 1 which completelycovers the urine collection tube 3 is modified such that the cover tube4 covers the urine collection inlet 33 only as shown in FIGS. 10 to 12.

More specifically, the measuring part 31 of the urine collection tube 3is shaped into a rectangular tank. Then, a urine collection part 32 iscontinuously formed on the top surface of the measuring part 31. Theurine collection part 32 includes a tapered part 3 a and a perfect roundpart 3 b. The tapered part 3 a is shaped to increase in diameter in adownward direction in FIG. 10. The large-diameter end thereof iscontinuous to the measuring part 31 and the small-diameter end thereofis continuous to the perfect round part 3 b. The tapered part 3 a isprovided with a urine collection inlet 33. The urine collection inlet 33is formed to have an inclined plane 33 b at the lower end thereof and anorthogonal plane 33 a at the upper end thereof.

The perfect round part 3 b is provided with a connection part 35 at thetop end thereof as seen in FIG. 10 such that the container tube 2 isconnected thereto.

The cover tube 4 includes a tapered part 4 a and a perfect round part 4b to correspond with the urine collection part 32 of the urinecollection tube 3. The tapered part 4 a of the cover tube 4 is shaped toincrease in diameter in a downward direction in FIG. 10 and thesmall-diameter end thereof is continuous to the perfect round part 4 b.The perfect round part 4 b of the cover tube 4 is fitted onto thecontainer tube 2 and slides along the container tube and the perfectround part 3 b of the urine collection tube 3.

When the cover tube 4 slides along the container tube 2 to the urinecollection tube 3, the cover tube 4 is fitted with the tapered part 3 aof the urine collection tube 3, thereby closing the urine collectioninlet 33.

The cap 5 includes a small-diameter insert part 53 and a large-diameterflange 54. The insert part 53 is formed such that it is inserted in theopened end of the container tube 2 to seal the container tube 2.

Thus, for urine collection, as shown in FIG. 10, the opened end of thecontainer tube 2 is inserted into the connection part 35 of the urinecollection tube 3 to connect the urine collection tube 3 and thecontainer tube 2, thereby forming an assembly ready for urinecollection.

In this assembly, the cover tube 4 is positioned outside the containertube 2 and the urine collection inlet 33 is opened. A test subject holdsthe container tube 2 with the urine collection tube 3 pointing downward.The test subject then pours urine onto the urine collection inlet 33such that the urine flows into the urine collection tube 3 through theurine collection inlet 33 and accumulates in the measuring part 31.Thus, urine collection is completed. During the urine collection, once apredetermined amount of urine (10 ml) is infused into the measuring part31, an additional amount of urine leaks out of the urine collection tube3 through the urine collection inlet 33. Therefore, an amount of urinerequired for urinalysis is surely collected without collecting extraurine.

After the urine collection is completed, the cover tube 4 which is notsoiled is slid down such that the tapered part 4 a of the cover tube 4is fitted with the tapered part 3 a of the urine collection tube 3,thereby closing the urine collection inlet 33 with the cover. Then, theurine collection vessel 1 is turned upside down while the vessel 1 isheld at the cover tube 4. As a result, the urine contained in themeasuring part 31 flows into the container tube 2 and accumulatestherein.

Then, in this state, the urine collection vessel 1 may be held in avessel carrier and transferred to an examination room or the like. Oralternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the urine collection tube 3 and thecover tube 4 may be removed from the container tube 2 and the opened endof the container tube 2 is closed with the cap 5. Then, the containertube 2 is held in the vessel carrier and transferred to the examinationroom. Other features, actions and effects than described above are thesame as those of Embodiment 1.

EMBODIMENT 3

Now, with reference to the drawings, a detailed explanation is given ofEmbodiment 3 of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the rectangular tank-shaped measuring part 31 ofEmbodiment 2 is modified into an oval cylinder as shown in FIGS. 13 to15.

More specifically, the measuring part 31 of the urine collection tube 3is continuous to a tapered part 3 a of a urine collection part 32 andformed to increase in diameter in a downward direction in FIG. 13 andthe large-diameter end thereof is closed. The small-diameter end at thetop of the measuring part 31 is continuous to the large-diameter end ofthe tapered part 3 a of the urine collection part 32.

Therefore, for urine collection, the opened end of the container tube 2is inserted into a connecting part 35 of the urine collection tube 3 toconnect the urine collection tube 3 and the container tube 2, therebyforming an assembly ready for urine collection.

In this assembly, the cover tube 4 is positioned outside the containertube 2 and the urine collection inlet 33 is opened. A test subject holdsthe container tube 2 with the urine collection tube 3 pointing downward.The test subject then pours urine onto the urine collection inlet 33such that the urine flows into the urine collection tube 3 through theurine collection inlet 33 and accumulates therein. Thus, urinecollection is completed. During the urine collection, once apredetermined amount of urine (10 ml) is infused into the measuring part31, an additional amount of urine leaks out of the urine collection tube3 from the urine collection inlet 33. Therefore, an amount of urinerequired for urinalysis is surely collected without collecting extraurine.

After the urine collection is completed, the cover tube 4 which is notsoiled is slid down such that the tapered part 4 a of the cover tube 4is fitted with the tapered part 3 a of the urine collection tube 3,thereby closing the urine collection inlet 33 with the cover. Then, theurine collection vessel 1 is turned upside down while the vessel is heldat the cover tube 4. As a result, the urine contained in the measuringpart 31 flows into the container tube 2 and accumulates therein.

Then, in this state, the urine collection vessel 1 may be held in avessel carrier and transferred to an examination room or the like. Oralternatively, as shown in FIG. 14, the urine collection tube 3 and thecover tube 4 may be detached from the container tube 2 and the openedend of the container tube 2 is closed with the cap 5. Then, thecontainer tube 2 is held in the vessel carrier and transferred to theexamination room. Other features, actions and effects than describedabove are the same as those of Embodiment 1.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

In the above embodiments, the container tube 2 and the urine collectiontube 6 are provided with the threads 23 and 36, respectively. However,the threads 23 and 36 of the container tube 2 and the urine collectiontube 6 may be a combination of a recess and a projection. In short, thecontainer tube 2 and the urine collection tube 6 are formed such thatthey are connected or disconnected without leaking the urine out.

The container tube, urine collection tube and cover tube may besubjected to sterilization. The sterilization may be carried out usingγ-ray, X-ray, β-ray, α-ray, electron beam or neutron beam.

If the container tube, urine collection tube and cover tube aresterilized, reliability of urinalysis improves because the kind and thenumber of bacteria are examined with accuracy.

As indicated by a chain double-dashed line in FIG. 5, the urinecollection tube 3 may be provided with protrusions 37 and 39 formed onparts of the outer circumference surface thereof at both sides of theurine collection inlet 33. That is, on the outer circumference surfaceof the urine collection tube 3, a first protrusion 37 is formed on partof the measuring part 31 near the urine collection inlet 33 and a thirdprotrusion 39 is formed at the side of the urine collection inlet 33near the connecting part 35. The third protrusion 39 near the connectionpart 35 prevents the urine from leaking into space between the urinecollection tube 3 and the cover tube 4 when the urine collection tube 3inserted in the cover tube 4 is turned upside down.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the urine collection vessel of the present inventionis extremely useful as a urine collection vessel used for urinalysis inhospitals and the like.

1. A urine collection vessel comprising: a narrow cylindrical containertube for containing urine provided with an end closed and the other endopened; a narrow cylindrical urine collection tube for collecting urineprovided with an end closed, the other end which is opened and freelyconnected or disconnected to the opened end of the container tube and aurine collection inlet provided at the side of the urine collectiontube; and a narrow cylindrical cover tube for closing the urinecollection inlet provided with an end closed and the other end openedand has a slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the urinecollection tube so that the urine collection tube is freely insertedinto and removed from the cover tube, wherein part of the urinecollection tube ranging from the urine collection inlet to the closedend is formed as a measuring part which contains and measures apredetermined amount of urine.
 2. A urine collection vessel according toclaim 1 further comprising a cap which closes the opened end of thecontainer tube when the container tube and the urine collection tube areseparated.
 3. A urine collection vessel according to claim 1 or 2further comprising a connecting means for detachably connecting theurine collection tube and the cover tube.
 4. A urine collection vesselaccording to claim 3, wherein the connecting means includes a protrusionwhich is formed on the outer circumference surface of the urinecollection tube and a recess which is formed on the inner circumferencesurface of the cover tube such that the protrusion is fitted in therecess when the urine collection tube is inserted into the cover tube.5. A urine collection vessel according to claim 1, wherein the containertube is provided with a scale for indicating the amount of urinecollected.
 6. A urine collection vessel according to claim 1, whereinthe container tube, urine collection tube and cover tube are sterilized.7. A urine collection vessel according to claim 1, wherein astrip-shaped protrusion is formed on part of the outer circumferencesurface of the urine collection tube near the urine collection inlet.